Federal Law Enforcement Under Siege: Attacks Surge Amidst Political Crossfire

Paul Riverbank, 1/10/2026Federal law enforcement faces surging attacks, political scrutiny, but perseveres with everyday acts of heroism.

Some numbers coming out of the Department of Homeland Security paint a stark picture: assaults on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents have reportedly soared by more than a thousand percent on multiple fronts. Reports of vehicular attacks have spiked over 3,000%, and death threats have risen dramatically — magnitudes greater than years past. For officers in the field, safety has shifted from assumption to constant question.

Meanwhile, the public conversation about these agencies has curdled in certain corners. What may have once passed for political hyperbole — dismissing ICE as “fake” law enforcement — is now voiced openly by some elected officials. Take Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal, who, in the emotional aftermath of a shooting in Minnesota, went as far as to cast doubt on the very legitimacy of ICE as public safety professionals. That kind of rhetoric doesn’t stay contained; soon enough, calls to dismantle agencies or liken them to extremist groups echo from coast to coast.

Despite the controversy, inside the Department of Homeland Security there is anything but ambivalence about the mission. “I want to take a moment to express how thankful I am every single day for the men and women who put on the badge and put their lives on the line to protect the American people,” said Secretary Kristi Noem, who seemed determined to cut through the din of political argument. She noted the sheer size of the department — more than 80,000 officers and agents — and underscored the toll service takes: “We recognize the sacrifice you and your families make to protect and serve the American people and our great country.” Noem, flanked by President Trump’s longtime support, struck a resolute tone: “We will always stand with you.”

Much of the current uproar pivots, of course, on immigration. Federal officers, particularly those involved along the border, have been thrust into a relentless cycle of heightened danger and high-decibel criticism — particularly, the department argues, from certain politicians and segments of the media. The phrase Noem used was “relentless, violent, and dehumanizing rhetoric,” and it’s clear she believes it’s having consequences far beyond the realm of debate.

But in all this, individual acts of courage can get lost. Flip through the headlines and you’ll rarely see the names or faces of the officers who, for instance, in Dallas, rushed to the aid of a motorist trapped after a truck rolled seven times, working elbow to elbow with good Samaritans. Or the Special Response Team in Denver, who didn’t hesitate when a flaming crash demanded they crawl beneath a dashboard to pull free a trapped man — just moments ahead of the advancing fire.

Some stories almost defy belief. A Texas special agent came upon a toppled semi, where the driver had lost his left arm — physically lost it, scattered amidst leaking diesel. The agent not only retrieved the severed limb but offered emergency care, holding things together until paramedics arrived. It’s the kind of moment that might not even make the local evening news.

Alabama had drama of a different kind: An HSI agent, rounding a curve, finds an overturned van smoke-choked and blocking the road. He punches out the window, extracts the driver, dodges speeding cars by leaping over a bridge, then sprints back through dense smoke to finish the rescue. Everyone survived, a minor miracle stacked atop quick thinking.

When storms have torn through places like San Antonio, it’s federal agents slogging through mud and floodwaters, conducting wellness checks and recovery efforts when most people are scrambling for higher ground.

It would do all of us good, amidst the roiling debate about laws and agencies, to actually see these scenes: officers who are not anonymous faces, but neighbors, parents, the type of people who run toward trouble as others recoil.

Noem’s admonition was simple, but bears repeating: “Make them a meal, buy them a cup of coffee, or simply thank them.” For many officers, the work is more than policy or paycheck — it’s the call to be there, for the country, even when the country seems divided over their presence. And so, in the end, whether the political weather is calm or stormy, the job gets done, often with little notice and less appreciation. For those who serve, that seems to be enough.

Law Enforcement Appreciation Day arrived this year cloaked in uncertainty, with federal officers facing a barrage of threats from directions that seemed to multiply overnight. By sunrise, it was clear that the annual salute would be far from routine.Some numbers coming out of the Department of Homeland Security paint a stark picture: assaults on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents have reportedly soared by more than a thousand percent on multiple fronts. Reports of vehicular attacks have spiked over 3,000%, and death threats have risen dramatically — magnitudes greater than years past. For officers in the field, safety has shifted from assumption to constant question.Meanwhile, the public conversation about these agencies has curdled in certain corners. What may have once passed for political hyperbole — dismissing ICE as “fake” law enforcement — is now voiced openly by some elected officials. Take Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal, who, in the emotional aftermath of a shooting in Minnesota, went as far as to cast doubt on the very legitimacy of ICE as public safety professionals. That kind of rhetoric doesn’t stay contained; soon enough, calls to dismantle agencies or liken them to extremist groups echo from coast to coast.Despite the controversy, inside the Department of Homeland Security there is anything but ambivalence about the mission. “I want to take a moment to express how thankful I am every single day for the men and women who put on the badge and put their lives on the line to protect the American people,” said Secretary Kristi Noem, who seemed determined to cut through the din of political argument. She noted the sheer size of the department — more than 80,000 officers and agents — and underscored the toll service takes: “We recognize the sacrifice you and your families make to protect and serve the American people and our great country.” Noem, flanked by President Trump’s longtime support, struck a resolute tone: “We will always stand with you.”Much of the current uproar pivots, of course, on immigration. Federal officers, particularly those involved along the border, have been thrust into a relentless cycle of heightened danger and high-decibel criticism — particularly, the department argues, from certain politicians and segments of the media. The phrase Noem used was “relentless, violent, and dehumanizing rhetoric,” and it’s clear she believes it’s having consequences far beyond the realm of debate.But in all this, individual acts of courage can get lost. Flip through the headlines and you’ll rarely see the names or faces of the officers who, for instance, in Dallas, rushed to the aid of a motorist trapped after a truck rolled seven times, working elbow to elbow with good Samaritans. Or the Special Response Team in Denver, who didn’t hesitate when a flaming crash demanded they crawl beneath a dashboard to pull free a trapped man — just moments ahead of the advancing fire.Some stories almost defy belief. A Texas special agent came upon a toppled semi, where the driver had lost his left arm — physically lost it, scattered amidst leaking diesel. The agent not only retrieved the severed limb but offered emergency care, holding things together until paramedics arrived. It’s the kind of moment that might not even make the local evening news.Alabama had drama of a different kind: An HSI agent, rounding a curve, finds an overturned van smoke-choked and blocking the road. He punches out the window, extracts the driver, dodges speeding cars by leaping over a bridge, then sprints back through dense smoke to finish the rescue. Everyone survived, a minor miracle stacked atop quick thinking.When storms have torn through places like San Antonio, it’s federal agents slogging through mud and floodwaters, conducting wellness checks and recovery efforts when most people are scrambling for higher ground.It would do all of us good, amidst the roiling debate about laws and agencies, to actually see these scenes: officers who are not anonymous faces, but neighbors, parents, the type of people who run toward trouble as others recoil.Noem’s admonition was simple, but bears repeating: “Make them a meal, buy them a cup of coffee, or simply thank them.” For many officers, the work is more than policy or paycheck — it’s the call to be there, for the country, even when the country seems divided over their presence. And so, in the end, whether the political weather is calm or stormy, the job gets done, often with little notice and less appreciation. For those who serve, that seems to be enough.